Running wheel arrangement

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a running wheel arrangement having a hub and a running wheel, which is rotatably supported on the hub. Furthermore, the hub includes an internal hub and an external hub which are provided substantially in a manner fixed for co-rotation and which are displaceable against each other in the radial direction. The running wheel further includes a spring which is provided between the internal hub and the external hub.

This application is the National Phase of International ApplicationPCT/EP99/08609 filed Nov. 10, 1999 which designated the U.S. and thatInternational Application was not published under PCT Article 21(2) inEnglish.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a running wheel arrangement having ahub means and a running wheel rotatably supported on the hub means.

SUMMARY OF RELATED ART

Running wheel arrangements of this type are used in sporting devicessuch as inline skates. Running wheel arrangements of this type consist,in particular, of a wheel body made of polyurethane, and a rim fixedlyconnected to this wheel body. The rim in turn, is rotatably supported ona hub. The hub is finally attached by means of a shaft at a supportprovided at the inline skates.

A disadvantage of this known wheel arrangement is, however, that shockson a single wheel of the inline skates cannot be absorbed but are rathertransferred onto the inline skate. Shocks of this type reduce thedriving comfort and also lead to a significant load on the joints.

Furthermore, the known wheel arrangement is susceptible to vibrationsparticularly at high running speeds.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In view of the above-mentioned facts, the object of the invention is toimprove the known wheel arrangements.

This object is solved by a wheel arrangement of the above-mentionedtype, which is characterized in that the hub means has an internal huband an external hub, which are provided in a manner fixed forco-rotation with one another and that they are provided displaceablewith respect to each other in the radial direction and that it comprisesa spring means which is provided between the internal hub and theexternal hub.

Since the hub means according to the invention comprises an internalhub, which can be connected to the inline skate by means of an axis, andan external hub which is provided in a manner fixed for co-rotation withrespect to the internal hub and is movable with respect to the internalhub in the radial direction, the wheel arrangement may movesubstantially perpendicularly with respect to the inline skate. Thespring means which is provided between the internal hub and the externalhub can absorb shocks against the individual wheel arrangements of theinline skate in the direction of movement of the wheel arrangement withrespect to the inline skate. Thus, the driving comfort is increased andat the same time, the joints of the inline skater are protected.

Moreover, vibrations of the wheel arrangement are reduced particularlyat high speed.

According to an advantageous development of the invention, the externalhub may be provided in the radial direction in a sliding movable mannerwithin the interior hub. This avoids a possible tilting in case ofobliquely acting forces, when driving with inline skates.

In another advantageous development of the invention, the axes of theexternal hub, i.e. the axis of rotation of the running wheel, and theattachment hub of the internal hub may be parallel and offset withrespect to one another.

Hereby it is possible to mount the entire wheel arrangement in adownwardly offset manner with respect to the attachment axis. Thus, aconventional wheel arrangement, in which no space for a spring means isprovided in the direction towards the inline skate, can be replaced bythe wheel arrangement according to the invention.

Moreover, a higher spring path can be achieved by this arrangement whilethe size of the wheel arrangement is unchanged.

According to a further advantageous embodiment, the spring means may beformed in the form of an elastic body, preferably made of PU foam. Sucha spring means is very simple to manufacture, and leads to aninexpensive realization of the wheel arrangement. By a suitable choiceof the material, the shock-absorbing behavior can also be adjusted.Thus, it is possible to optimally adapt the wheel arrangement torespective driving situations, e.g. to a road or open country, and tothe body weight of the inline skater.

The elastic body may comprise an opening, i.e. it may be formed in anannular manner. Then, it is possible to provide the internal hub with asection for the interlocking engagement into the opening of the elasticbody, and to provide the external hub with a section for theinterlocking accommodation of the elastic body. For this purpose, bothsections are purposefully designed in a manner that the arrangement ofthe internal hub, which is substantially fixed for co-rotation withrespect to the external hub, is ensured.

As an alternative, the external hub may comprise a section for theinterlocking engagement into the opening of the elastic body, and theinternal hub may have a section for the interlocking accommodation ofthe elastic body, wherein both sections are formed in a manner that thearrangement of the internal hub which is substantially fixed forco-rotation with respect to the external hub is ensured by the elasticbody inserted.

Both alternatives also enable a very simple and therefore inexpensiverealization of the wheel arrangement according to the invention.Moreover, this simple arrangement is characterized by its ruggedness andresistance to wear.

Moreover, the spring characteristics of the wheel arrangement, inparticular the spring strength and the spring path can be adjusted andtherefore adapted to the respective situation by the shape of theopening in the spring element and the shape of the correspondingengagement section.

According to a development of the above-described arrangements, theinternal hub may have two halves which are extendable within one anotherin the axial direction such that they are arranged in a manner fixed forco-rotation. The halves may for instance comprise claws for forming afixed coupling of the two halves. In an advantageous manner, theexternal hub may also comprise two halves. Furthermore, the spring meansmay comprise a first spring element and a second spring element, whereinthe first spring element is provided between a half of the internal huband a half of the external hub, and the second spring element isprovided between the other half of the internal hub and the other halfof the external hub.

This symmetric arrangement leads to a regular distribution of power intothe axle of the inline skates. This finally leads to the fact that thewheel arrangement of the inline skates is more rugged and wears off moreslowly. Moreover, this arrangement also corresponds to the structure ofthe conventional wheel arrangements for inline skates, so that aretrofit of conventional inline skates by the wheel arrangementsaccording to the invention is possible without any problems.

A simple installation of the wheel arrangement is moreover ensured bythe two-piece design of the internal hub and of the external hub. Theinstallation is further simplified in that due to the two hub portions,which are not radially-symmetrical (in the present case the two internalhub halves), there is only one possibility to attach the two hubportions and thus the entire arrangement at the inline skate. Anincorrect installation of the wheel arrangement at the inline skate, inparticular by amateurs, is therefore excluded.

According to an advantageous development, a running wheel having a wheelbody and a rim fixedly connected thereto is used. By attaching the rimat the bearing means it is possible to form the bearing between therunning wheel and the external hub in a simple manner.

Advantageously, the rim may comprise a web having holes, said webextending in the radial direction. The wheel body may then be castaround the web and the holes. This ensures a stable attachment of thewheel body at the rim.

Purposefully, the rim is rotatably supported at the external hub bymeans of a ball bearing or a roller bearing. Bearings of this type areespecially reliable and inexpensive bearing means.

Advantageously, the rim may be secured at the ball bearing or the rollerbearing by means of a safety ring. Since such a safety ring can beeasily attached and released, a simple installation is also ensured bythis measure. This may enable an exchange of individual components, e.g.of the bearing means.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further advantages of the invention can be derived from the followingdetailed description of a preferred embodiment of the invention withreference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a wheel arrangement according to thepresent invention,

FIG. 2 shows a plan view onto a half of an internal hub of the wheelarrangement according to FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 shows a plan view onto a spring body of the wheel arrangementaccording to FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

This wheel arrangement comprises a hub means 10 and a running wheel 50,which is rotatably supported on the hub means 10.

The hub means according to the embodiment shown comprises an internalhub 20 and an external hub 30. The internal hub as well as the externalhub 30 in turn consist of two halves each, i.e. of two internal hubhalves 21 and 22 and two external hub halves 31 and 32.

A spring element in the form of an elastic body 41 a,b is providedbetween the first internal hub half 21 and the first external hub half31. Similarly, a spring element [42] is arranged between the secondinternal hub half 22 and the second external hub half 32.

In FIG. 2 and 3, to which reference will now be made, a plane view ontothe internal hub half 21 and a plane view onto the spring element 41 isshown.

As may be seen in FIG. 3, the spring element consists of an elastic body41 a,b which comprises an opening 42.

The internal hub half 21 shown in FIG. 2 in plane view comprises acircular and plate-shaped section 24. A section 23 is connected to thiscircular and plate-shaped section 24, the section 23 has a shape thatcorresponds to the opening 42 in the elastic body 41 a,b. In particular,the section 23 of the internal hub 21 and the opening 42 of the elasticbody 41 are formed in a manner that the section 23 interlockinglyengages into the opening 42. A further appendix 26 shaped as a claw isconnected to the section 23 of the internal hub half 21 as may be seenin FIG. 1. The appendix 26 are provided in a manner that when the wheelarrangement is installed, the appendix 26 is in fixed engagement with aclaw 26′ of the second internal hub half 22. A bore 27 extends throughthe section 26, wherein an axle having an axis 25 for attaching thewheel arrangement to the inline skate can be passed through the bore.

The internal hub half 21, which interlockingly engages into the opening42 of the elastic body 41 is together with the elastic body 41, as shownin FIG. 1, accommodated in a corresponding cylindrical section 33 of theexternal hub half.

By the special design of the opening 42 in the spring element 41 and thesection 23 of the internal hub halves 21 and 22 a substantially fixedarrangement of the external hub with respect to the internal hub 21 isensured. When installing the wheel arrangement in the inline skates, theexternal hub arrangement 30 is also fixed for co-rotation with respectto the inline state so that the running wheel 50 is freely rotatable bymeans of a bearing means 60 with respect to the inline skate.

It immediately follows from the fact that the external hub means 30 mustbe basically fixed for co-rotation with respect to the internal hubmeans 20 (and the inline skate fixedly connected therewith) in whatmanner the engagement section 23 of the internal hub half 21 and thecorresponding opening 42 of the elastic body 41 a,b must be formed. Withrespect to the elastic body 41 a,b, the shape of the opening 42 shouldtherefore significantly deviate from a radial symmetry. Accordingly,circular openings used as openings 42, whose center is close to thecenter of the totally circular elastic element, are not suitable.

As can moreover be seen from FIG. 1, the internal hub section 21 and 22are designed in a manner that they comprise a guide section for the twoexternal hub halves 31 and 32. This guide section is designed in amanner that a guide of the external hub means 30 in the internal hubmeans 20 is possible in the vertical direction in FIG. 1. Due to thespring element 41 and 42, this movement is, however, not free butpossible in a damped manner only. Consequently, shocks, that are exertedonto the wheel arrangement in the vertical direction can be absorbed bythe spring element 40. The power of absorbing and the spring path can bepredetermined on the one hand by the material used for the springelement 40 and on the other hand by the shape of the opening 42 in thespring element 40.

The eccentric shape of the opening 42 of the spring element 41 resultsin that the axis 35 of the external hub means, i.e. the axis of rotationof the running wheel, is offset with respect to the axis of attachment25.

[Hereby] Therefore, it is possible to install the entire wheelarrangement downwardly offset with respect to the attachment axis. Thus,a conventional wheel arrangement, in which only a small space isprovided in the direction towards the inline skate between the wheelbody and the inline skate, can be replaced by the wheel arrangementaccording to the invention, although it requires a larger installationclearance due to the spring path.

The eccentric, unsymmetrical shape of the opening 42 in the springelement 40 further leads to the fact that the spring element 40 has abroad section 45 and a narrow section 44. The wheel arrangement isattached at the inline skate in a manner that the narrow section 44points towards the inline skate, whereas the broad section 45 pointsaway from the inline skate. The spring path may then be enlarged at anequal size of the wheel arrangement.

Furthermore, the spring element 40 comprises lateral sections 46, whichare also formed thicker than the section 44. These sections ensure thatnot only shocks are absorbed which are exerted perpendicularly frombelow onto the wheel arrangement installed in an inline skate, but alsoshocks that are exerted onto the wheel arrangement at an angle withrespect to the vertical are absorbed.

The two external hub halves 31 and 32 are designed in a manner that theymay receive a ball bearing. By means of this ball bearing, the runningwheel 50 is supported rotatably on the external hub means 30.

The running wheel 50 is purposefully formed of a wheel body 51 and of arim 52.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the rim 52 comprises a web53, which is provided with holes, one of which is shown in FIG. 1 and isprovided with reference numeral 54. The wheel body 51 is cast around theweb and through the holes. This ensures a fixed connection between thewheel body and the rim.

The rim 51 in turn is provided with a recess for accommodating the ballbearing 60. Purposefully, the bearing is secured at the rim by means ofa safety ring 55. Therefore, the components of the wheel arrangement canbe easily mounted and dismounted.

Instead of the ball bearing shown in FIG. 1, other bearing means, suchas roller bearings or needle bearings, can of course also be used.

What is claimed is:
 1. A running wheel arrangement, comprising: a hubmeans, and a running wheel which is rotatably supported on the hubmeans; wherein the hub means comprises an internal hub and an externalhub, which are arranged radially displaceable with respect to oneanother but fixed for co-rotation, and a spring means which is providedbetween the internal hub and the external hub; and the axis of theexternal hub and the attachment axis of the internal hub are paralleland offset with respect to one another.
 2. A running wheel arrangementas claimed in claim 1, wherein the external hub is provided slidably ina radial direction within the internal hub.
 3. A running wheelarrangement as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the spring means isprovided in the form of an elastic body made of PU foam.
 4. A runningwheel arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the elastic body has anopening.
 5. A running wheel arrangement as claimed in claim 4, whereinthe internal hub comprises a section for the interlocking engagementinto the opening of the elastic body, and the external hub comprises asection for the interlocking accommodation of the elastic body whereinboth sections are designed in a manner that through the inserted elasticbody the substantially fixed arrangement of the internal hub withrespect to the external hub is realized.
 6. A running wheel arrangementas claimed in claim 4, wherein the external hub comprises a section forthe interlocking engagement into the opening of the elastic body, andthe internal hub comprises a section for the interlocking accommodationof the elastic body, wherein both sections are formed in a manner thatby the inserted elastic body the substantially fixed arrangement of theinternal hub with respect to the external hub is realized.
 7. A runningwheel arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the internal hubcomprises two halves which can be plugged into one another in the axialdirection in a manner that they are fixed for co-rotation.
 8. A runningwheel arrangement as claimed in claim 7, wherein the halves compriseclaws for forming a fixed coupling of the two halves.
 9. A running wheelarrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the external hub comprisestwo halves.
 10. A running wheel arrangement as claimed in claim 9,wherein the internal hub comprises two halves which can be plugged intoone another in the axial direction in a manner that they are fixed forco-rotation, and wherein the spring means comprises a first springelement and a second spring element, the first spring element isprovided between one half of the internal hub and one half of theexternal hub and the second spring element is provided between the otherhalf of the internal hub and the other half of the external hub.
 11. Arunning wheel arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the halvescomprise claws for forming a fixed coupling of the two halves, andwherein the spring means comprises a first spring element and a secondspring element, the first spring element is provided between one half ofthe internal hub and one half of the external hub and the second springelement is provided between the other half of the internal hub and theother half of the external hub.
 12. A running wheel arrangement asclaimed in claim 1, wherein the running wheel comprises a wheel body anda rim fixedly connected therewith.
 13. A running wheel arrangement asclaimed in claim 12, wherein the rim comprises a web with holesextending in the radial direction, and the wheel body is cast around theweb and the holes.
 14. A running wheel arrangement as claimed in claim12 or 13, wherein the rim is rotatably supported on the external hub bymeans of a ball bearing or a roller bearing.
 15. A running wheelarrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the rim is secured at theball bearing or roller bearing by means of a safety ring.
 16. A runningwheel arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the rim is secured atthe ball bearing or roller bearing by means of a safety ring.
 17. Arunning wheel arrangement as claimed in claim 14, wherein the rim issecured at the ball bearing or roller bearing by means of a safety ring.